Romain Grosjean reacts to Guenther Steiner's Netflix jibes

Romain Grosjean

Grosjean reacts to Steiner's Netflix jibes

The Haas boss joked his driver didn't deserve to eat!

Matthew Scott

Thursday 14 March 2019 15:51 Updated: 16:18

Romain Grosjean insists he has no qualms with Guenther Steiner after Netflix's 'Drive to Survive' documentary uncovered the often coarse ways in which the Haas team principal discussed his driver during a difficult start to the 2018 season, which saw him suffer numerous incidents.

Grosjean did not score in any of the first eight races of last year, crashing under the safety car in Baku and then spinning dangerously into traffic on the first lap of the Spanish Grand Prix.

'Drive to Survive' documents Grosjean's struggles to cope with his poor form mentally, although Steiner is often harsh – joking that the Frenchman did not deserve to eat in his absence at a team dinner.

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However, Grosjean says that Steiner's harsher words are nothing that would not be said face-to-face between the pair.

"I know Gunther, and he's calling a cat a cat," said Grosjean. "So that's fine by me.

"We've had discussions and we've never lied to each other. He always tell the truth and that's something I appreciate.

"Honestly, if you are telling me to judge my first half of the season myself, I wouldn't have been tender myself. So fine by me.

"I think I changed the direction of the boat in the second part, and hopefully he did say some nice things in the second part. I didn't hear, but hopefully. If not, I'll just fucking get him!"

The Netflix show has been well received by die-hard and casual fans alike, with Grosjean confirming a difference can be felt as a result.

"What I think of it is not what's very important," he said. "What's important is people from outside of Formula 1 or people who don't follow Formula 1, what they think of the documentary is the most important thing.

"I've met a lot of people at the airport saying it's been great, it's been good, and if it can bring more fans to Formula 1, it's amazing. So, yeah on social media it's been really good response, really good comments."